NORMAN — Aaryn Ellenberg may not come across as the most impassioned basketball player. That’s probably because she isn’t.
The Oklahoma women’s leading scorer simply doesn’t live and die with the game.
“Most high-profile players have this basketball-or-die mentality,” explained junior guard and team captain Whitney Hand. “Aaryn has a life-is-bigger mentality.”
If Ellenberg did live and die with the game, her coach and teammates might actually be worried. But they’re not worried.
They’re not worried about the three-game stretch Ellenberg’s riding, one in which she’s made only 6 of 32 shots — and only one of her last 15 — none of her 13 3-point tries and 2 of 4 free throws.
A credit to the team’s progress, the Sooners have won their last two games, both on the road, at Missouri and Kansas, despite getting three points total from Ellenberg.
“Every shooter in America goes through it at one time or another,” OU coach Sherri Coale said. “We’ve been fortunate enough, for the most part, to win without her.”
Still, OU would much prefer to have the old Ellenberg back for today’s noon tip against Bedlam rival Oklahoma State at Lloyd Noble Center.
Ellenberg wasn’t terrific the first time around against the Cowgirls, making 5 of 17 shots and finishing with 12 points in a 66-63 Sooner loss at Stillwater. Today’s game would seem to be a fine place for her to turn things around.
Coale said Ellenberg has taken a few bad shots recently, but not many. The only big difference recently than before is that those shots haven’t gone in.
“I’m doing fine,” Ellenberg said. “I know it’s not going to last forever. I’ve worked on some things the last two days, so I’ll be fine.”
Just having a couple of days to devote to that work could make a difference. From Jan. 26 to Jan. 31, OU played three games in six days. Also, after today, the Sooners are at No. 1 Baylor at 8 p.m. Monday. Up against that kind of schedule, three days between games might do the Sooners some good.
For some, time to think about a slump might not be a good thing. But the thing about Ellenberg is she doesn’t dwell on it. If she’d been on fire the last three games, she wouldn’t be dwelling on that either.
“That laid back mentality that she has personally is sometimes evident on the floor and that’s not a good thing,” Coale said, “but the flip side of that is when she’s in the middle of a three-game shooting slump, she’s not looking to jump off the nearest bridge.”
She may just be looking for the next shot.
“She’s one of the most confident players I’ve ever played with,” OU point guard Morgan Hook said. “She has a short memory.”
Ellenberg last netted 20 points in a game against Iowa State, Jan. 4, finishing with 21. She did, however, go for 31 more recently, in OU’s win at then-No. 23 Kansas State.
She’s certainly due.
“Yeah,” Coale said.
Clay Horning 366-3526 cfhorning@normantranscript.com
